Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher suggested that the Chicago Bears' reported move to Hammond, Indiana, is a strategic maneuver to pressure the state of Illinois into providing stadium funding.
Urlacher told Fox News Digital that he believes the team's public advancements regarding the Indiana project are "a ploy to try to get the state of Illinois to do something more than what they’ve done, which is nothing." He added that the Bears have already purchased land in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and are awaiting state funding to proceed with stadium construction there.
"I just cannot see the Bears leaving Illinois," Urlacher stated. "It drives me crazy. And I don’t want them leaving Soldier Field, honestly. I wish they could work something out to keep them there, but they want a dome, they want Super Bowls, they want Final Fours. They want all that big stuff. I get it. I just hate the fact that they’re leaving Soldier Field. That place is iconic."
He acknowledged the financial incentives offered by Indiana, noting the state is reportedly providing $2.5 billion for stadium construction. "As a businessperson, which the owners have to be these days, it makes sense to go," Urlacher said. "Unless Illinois comes through with something, I don’t see them staying there."
Kennedy Urlacher's College Career
Beyond the Bears' potential relocation, Urlacher also spoke about his son, Kennedy, a safety at USC. Kennedy transferred to the Trojans after his freshman season at Notre Dame, where he played in the national championship game.
Urlacher commented on the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals on college sports, admitting it has been "great for him [Kennedy]." However, he emphasized that his son earned his starting position at USC through hard work and determination, not solely due to his last name.
"I’ll tell you what he does: He busts his a--. I don’t care what his name is. His name could be Johnson. It doesn’t matter. This dude plays hard. He works his tail off, man," Urlacher said about his son. "He wants it because he earned it."
While Urlacher expressed reservations about NIL's broader impact on college sports, he acknowledged the personal benefits for athletes. "As long as the NCAA doesn’t get the money, I like it," he said regarding athletes being compensated.
Urlacher also shared his investment in Joey nicotine pouches, describing the product's rapid growth and widespread use, particularly among younger generations. He believes the pouches are a safer alternative to smoking or vaping, though he noted that health experts have raised concerns about the effects of smokeless nicotine alternatives, especially on young people.